Apparatus for the production of accessories to construction materials



Jan. 26, 1943. A. c. FISCHER 2,309,306 APPARATUS FOR 'THE PRODUCTiON OFACCESSORIES TO CONSTRUCTiON MATERIAL I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 21,1938 U 2 (on 1% p Jim. 26, 1943. A. c. FISCHER 2,309,306

APPARA'EUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ACCESSORIES TO'CONSTRUCTION MATERIALFiled Nov. 21, 1958 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Alberb 6:1 am

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THEPRODUCTION ACCESSORIES TO CONSTRUCTION MATE- RIALS 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to accessories to construction materialsand more particularly to arrangements for accommodating and compensatingfor the expansive and contractile effects of structural members spacedfrom each other by a yieldable structural medium. The invention alsocomprehends a novel apparatus for the production of such accessories.

It is the object of the invention to provide a yieldable joint betweenstructural members having means associated therewith for imparting along life to the joint without impairing the chicient operation thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to fabricate a complete joint inpreparation to installation without requiring any complicated assemblingoperations at the point of use.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for themanufacture of preformed expansion joints as a continuous Workingoperation making possible the fabrication of such joints in largequantities and at consequent low cost. Furthermore a uniform product isobtained by the manufacture thereof in accordance with the presentinvention. The expansion joint may be produced at a central point ofmanufacture in any desired lengths and shipped or stored for any lengthof time without deterioration.

The present invention comprehends the manufacture and utilization ofexpansion joints between adjoining slabs of concrete in buildingconstructions such as roadways, provision being made for the receptionand return of the plastic fiowable medium constituting the joint betweenthe expansible and contractible slabs, Without weakening the slabs atthe joints with the consequent spalling and cracking thereat.

Other objects and purposes will appear from a more detailed descriptionof the invention following hereinafter taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a preformedexpansion joint,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an apparatus indicatingdiagrammatically the production of the preformed expansion joint inaccordance with the present invention,

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 33 of Fi ure 2,

Figure 4 shows several different configurations which the spaces in thechannels in the ex pansion joint may assume, these being formedintegrally with each other or as separate channel members, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of the machine shown inFig, 1.

In Figure 1 is shown a, filler core I of yieldable plastic materialadapted to be disposed between adjacent slabs of structural material,such as concrete slabs in roadways. Metallic plates 2 are arranged onopposite sides of the core formed with channels 3 which define spacesfor receiving the core material which is subject to cold flow upon theexpansion of the slabs and the consequent tendency of the material to beextruded from the joint. Instead of the channels 3 being pressed fromthe same sheet of metal, they may be formed of separate parts and may bekept together by the flexible backing sheet 4. The flexible backing 4operates to protect the metal sheets against corrosive influences inshipment and storage and provides a desirable medium for separating theconcrete structural slabs from the expansion joint filler.

The expansion joint illustrated in Figure 1 may be fabricated completelyat the factory, thereby reducing manufacturing costs considerably andassuring a uniform product meeting predetermined specifications. Thechannels 3, shown as rectangular in form are preferably formed of metal.However, wood, fiber board, cardboard or any other material may be usedand the channeled plates are maintained in place adjacent the oppositefaces of the core by the superposed carrier 4 which is preferably aflexible web of felt, fabric, rubber, or paper which may be eitherwater-proofed or not, depending upon the application of the invention.The fabric is affixed to the core or the plates in any suitable manner,and preferably by an adhesive which may be that inherent in the flexibleweb or plastic core material, or which may be an extraneously appliedlayer of adhesive- The characteristic of the adhesive may vary with thatof the flexible carrier depending upon the exposed or unexposed locationof the joint.

Whereas the joint in Figure 1 shows two channels formed on each face ofthe core, it is understood that in some cases one will suffice and thatin others more than two channels may be used.

In Figure 4 are shown various outlines which the channels may assume.The channel 45 is shown forming a space semi-circular or oval incross-section, 46 and 48 are rectangular in opposite directions, and 41is triangular. Different configurations may be formed in the samechannel member or separate channels having different configurations maybe applied to the core material at displaced points and held together InFigure 2 is shown a machine for forming an expansion joint of the typeillustrated in Figure 1. A suitable extruding device having an outletnozzle forces a web of plastic material C therefrom onto a conveyor Hito impart a proper set to the material prior to the junction thereofwith the other parts of the assembly. Rolls of flexible channellingmaterial ill and 12 are mounted above and below the movable core and arefed through a series of cooperating forming rollers l3, l3 and l4, [4,respectively, to the point of junction of the channels with the corematerial. The channelling material is preferably of sheet metal. InFigure 3 is illustrated a sectional view of one set of the final rollersl3, l3 mounted in the sides of the frame 4!). Roller i3 is provided withgrooves 53 and roller I3 is provided with projections 43 which cooperatewith each other to impress any desired configuration into the-sheet ofchannel material. The interengagement of the grooves and projections inthe successive pairs of rollers are gradual so that the proper spaceformation is imparted to the channel material without rupture thereof.

The rollers 15 and I5 operate upon the opposite faces of the channelmaterial to effect the proper adhesion therebetween and the core. Theperipheral surfaces of the rollers and I5 may be varied in accordancewith the configuration of the channel which they press onto thematerial. Following a series of successive pressing operations by therollers l5 and [5' which have been shown as four in number for exampleonly, a flexible backing sheet is applied to the outside of each of thechannels opposite the core material. The webs of flexible material whichmay be of fabric, paper and the like, which may have been pretreated byimpregnation or otherwise previously, or which may be treated suitablyin their travel to the point of application thereof to the core-andchannel members, are shown as rollers I I and I3 which are fed throughpairs of guide rollers I9, [9 and 20, 28, respectively, to the point ofjunction thereof with the combined core and channel members. If theflexible backing material is lacking inherently in an adhesive medium,adhesive is applied to the inner faces of the webs of flexible materialby way of conduits 23 and 26 feeding from the adhesive supply tank 25.Thus adhesion is effected between the inner face of the flexible backingmaterial and the outer surfaces of the channel material while adhesionexists naturally between the extruded core and the inner face of thechannel material. A series of pressing rollers 29 and 30 on oppositesides of the travelling assembly serves to impress the whole assemblyprior to the feeding thereof to a conveyor 33 from which the material isfed to a suitable cutting mechanism for severing in proper lengths.

It is understood that the metallic sheets of channel members H and i2may be separate roll s'which are formed and applied to the core materialC at spaced points, whereupon the application of the flexible backing inthe subsequent "stages of manufacture will retain the separate channelsin place upon the opposite faces ofthe core material either by theadhesive inherently in the core material, the adhesive inherently in theflexible backing or by the application of an external film of adhesivefrom the supply container 25. Such an arrangement is shown in the planview in Figure 5 with the web of material I? reeled from roll I!functioning to maintain the individual channels in place.

A cross section of the rolls in Figure 3 is only illustrative since anydesired formation can be imparted to the channel material by the propergrooving of the rolls. A single pair of rolls may operate upon two ormore laterally displaced sheets of channel sheeting.

While I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and asoperating in a specific manner for purpose of illustration, it should beunderstood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since variousmodifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which isset forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a device for extruding a coreof plastic material in sheet form, means for forming sheet metal channelmembers adapted to be applied to the opposite faces of said corematerial comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers for executing apressing operation in said sheet metal, and means for superposing aflexible backing sheet on the outside of each of the channel sheets.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, means for extruding a web ofplastic material subject to cold flow, means for applying a sheet ofmetallic material provided with longitudinally extending channels to theopposite sides of said web with the channel part of each sheet defininga space adjacent said web, pressing rolls for defining said channels inadvance of the point of application of said sheets to said web, meansfor pressing together the sheets with said web following the combinationthereof, means for applying a flexible web of backing material on theoutside of said metallic sheets, and means for pressing together saidweb and juxtaposed sheets.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a device for extruding a webof plastic material, means for forming rolls of thin sheet material intolongitudinally extending channel members, means for applying saidchannelled sheet material to the opposite faces of said web of plasticmaterial, and means for superposing a flexible backing sheet on theoutside of the channelled sheet material.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first meanscomprises a plurality of pairs of rollers having interfittingperipheries for forming the desired channel impression in said thinmaterial.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first meanscomprises a plurality of pairs of rollers serially arranged withinterfltting peripheries of gradually increased degrees ofinterengagement for forming the desired channel impressions in saidsheet material.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, means for extruding a web ofplastic material subject to cold flow, means for applying a thin sheetof material provided with longitudinally extending channels to theopposite sides of said web, with each channel part of the sheet defininga space adjacent to said web, pressing rolls for forming said channelsin advance of the point of application of said sheets to said web, meansfor pressing together the sheets with said web following the combinationthereof, means for applying a flexible web of backing material on theoutside of said thin sheets, and means for pressing together said weband juxtaposed sheets.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, means for extruding a web ofplastic material subject to cold flow, means for applying to theopposite sides of said web a plurality of thin sheets of longitudinallychannelled material along a plurality of laterally displaced pointsthereacross, with the channel part of each sheet defining a spaceadjacent to said web, pressing rolls for forming said channels inadvance of the point of application of said sheets to said web, meansfor pressing together the sheets with said web following the combinationthereof, means for applying a flexible web of backing material on theoutside of said thin sheets, and

means for pressing together said web and juxtaposed sheets.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, means for extruding a web ofplastic material subject to cold flow, means for applying a thin sheetof material provided with longitudinally extending channels to theopposite sides of said web, with the channel part of each sheet defininga space adjacent to said web, pressing rolls for forming said channelsin advance of the point of application of said sheets to said web, andmeans for pressing together the sheets with said web following thecombination thereof.

ALBERT C. FISCHER.

